Smith & Mighty

Last updated

Smith & Mighty
Origin Bristol, England
Genres Trip hop
Years active1987–present
Labels Studio !K7, Three Stripe, Beatmaster Records
Members Rob Smith
Ray Mighty
Peter D Rose

Smith & Mighty are an English trip hop group from Bristol, England, consisting of Rob Smith, Ray Mighty and Peter D Rose. [1] [2] They pioneered the Bristol sound producing Massive Attack's "Any Love". The Bristol sound being a precursor to trip hop. [3] [4] As well as producing for others, they produced their own work, and various solo projects and collaborations.

Contents

Biography

In the late 1980s, they produced their first releases; were breakbeat covers of "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "Walk On By". [5] Both songs entered the UK Singles Chart. [6]

They produced Massive Attack's first single, "Any Love" released in 1988. [7] [8] In 1989, they produced "Wishing on a Star" for Fresh 4, a group consisting of Paul Southey (Suv), Krust, Judge and Flynn Thompson. [9] The track was an early example of the Bristol sound; it exposed more people to the style [10] charting in the UK at number 10. [11]

Smith and Might left London in 1994. Shortly after leaving they set up 'More Rockers' the record label. [12]

Rob Smith

Rob Smith (alias include More Rockers and RSD) is an English DJ, musician and remixer from Bristol, England. Previously on the now defunct Grand Central Records independent record label, playing breakbeat hip-hop, dub and reggae-influenced music, more recently producing dubstep tracks as RSD on a number of labels. Since 1987, be worked with Ray Mighty and Peter D Rose in Smith & Mighty. Smith was formerly a drum & bass/jungle DJ.[ when? ]

From the early 1990s to early 2000s, Smith and Rose produced music under the moniker of More Rockers. [13] [14] Smith and Might left London in 1994. Shortly after leaving they set up 'More Rockers' the record label. [15]

In 2018, Smith released a compilation album to raise people for homeless people in Bristol. [16] [17]

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

DJ mix albums

EPs

Singles

Productions

Remixes

Rob Smith discography

Related Research Articles

Trip hop is a musical genre that originated in the late 1980s in the United Kingdom, especially Bristol. It has been described as a psychedelic fusion of hip hop and electronica with slow tempos and an atmospheric sound, often incorporating elements of jazz, soul, funk, reggae, dub, R&B, and other forms of electronic music, as well as sampling from movie soundtracks and other eclectic sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Superstar</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1971)

Concetta Suzanne Kirschner, better known as Princess Superstar, is an American rapper and DJ. She has had two chart hits in the UK, "Bad Babysitter", which reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart in 2002, and "Perfect (Exceeder)", which reached number three in 2007. She has recorded with Moby, The Prodigy, Arthur Baker, Prince Paul, and Grandmaster Flash, amongst others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krust</span> English drum and bass producer and DJ

Kirk Thompson, better known by his stage name Krust, is an English drum and bass producer, DJ and co-owner of the Full Cycle record label. Beyond his roles in the music industry, Thompson is also responsible for two businesses: creative consultancy Disruptive Patterns and Amma Life, a CBD oil company he co-owns with Sophia Ali

Daniel Robert Kausman,, better known by his stage name DJ Die, is an English DJ and music producer. He was a founder of drum and bass label Full Cycle Recordings and a member of Roni Size & Reprazent and Breakbeat Era.

Rockers Hi-Fi were an electronic dub/dance outfit formed in Birmingham, England in 1991 as Original Rockers. In 1994, they changed their name to Rockers Hi-Fi. Their music was quite popular across Europe as an extension and continuation of the dub music genre.

Joe Gibbs born Joel Arthur Gibson was a Jamaican reggae producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Breaks</span> British drum and bass DJ, record producer and record label owner

Danny Breaks is a British drum and bass DJ, record producer and record label owner. He is known for his experimental instrumental hip hop production, and early music career as the breakbeat hardcore artist Sonz of a Loop Da Loop Era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Life</span> British independent music label

Music of Life is a British independent hip hop and dance music label formed in 1986 by Froggy and Simon Harris, managed by Chris France.

!K7 Music is a music company based in Berlin, Germany that focuses mostly on electronic music. The name is an abbreviation of the company's original Berlin address, Kaiserdamm 7. !K7 has since opened branch offices in New York City and London. The company now operates an artist management division, managing a roster of artists including the British musician Tricky. !K7 Music also runs a successful Label Services and Synch and Licensing department.

<i>DJ-Kicks: Thievery Corporation</i> 1999 compilation album by Thievery Corporation

DJ-Kicks: Thievery Corporation is a DJ mix album by Thievery Corporation. It was released on May 10, 1999, on the Studio !K7 independent record label as part of the DJ-Kicks series.

<i>DJ-Kicks: Smith & Mighty</i> 1998 compilation album by Smith & Mighty

DJ-Kicks: Smith & Mighty is a DJ mix album, mixed by Smith & Mighty. It was released on 9 March 1998 on the Studio !K7 independent record label as part of the DJ-Kicks series.

<i>Now Is Early</i> 1992 studio album by Nicolette

Now Is Early is the debut studio album by Scottish singer Nicolette, produced by English electronic duo Shut Up and Dance and released in April 1992 by the duo's label of the same name. It follows a string of popular underground singles in the early 1990s that applied the singer's jazz-styled vocals to Shut Up and Dance's early experiments in breakbeat hardcore, with songs from these singles featuring on the record. Stylistically, the record profiles Shut Up and Dance's spacious, breakbeat-driven sound, contrasted with Nicolette's smooth scat-style singing. For the album, the singer wrote torch songs in a stream of consciousness style and explored universal themes.

<i>DJ-Kicks: The Black Album</i> 1997 compilation album by Rockers Hi-Fi

DJ-Kicks: Rockers Hi-Fi is a DJ mix album, mixed by Rockers Hi-Fi. It was released on 19 May, 1997 on the Studio !K7 independent record label as part of the DJ-Kicks series.

Darren James Mew, better known as Darren Styles, is an English music producer, DJ, singer and songwriter from Colchester, Essex. Originally a member of the breakbeat hardcore group DJ Force & the Evolution, Styles found success during the 1990s as one half of Force & Styles. The duo were pioneers of happy hardcore and wrote several well-known songs such as "Heart of Gold", "Pretty Green Eyes" and "Paradise & Dreams".

<i>Bass Is Maternal</i> 1995 studio album by Smith & Mighty

Bass Is Maternal is the debut studio album by Bristolian production duo Smith & Mighty, released by More Rockers in 1995. The album was recorded in 1989 for ffrr/London Records, who had signed the duo after they had built up underground success in their native city for their innovative Bristol underground scene sound, but the labels deemed the record unsuitable for release. The record explores links between dub music and British rave culture, incorporating styles of rock, reggae and electronic music with an emphasis on dub-style bass. The album title and artwork highlight the perceived association between the exposure of bass and maternity.

Joseph Wisternoff is an English electronic music producer and DJ.

Nick Holder is an underground hip-hop and house music DJ and producer from Toronto, Ontario.

<i>The Call Is Strong</i> 1991 studio album by Carlton

The Call Is Strong is the only album by Bristolian soul singer Carlton, released by FFRR Records in January 1991. Produced by Smith & Mighty, the album explores a relaxed style of soul and dance music flavoured by reggae, hip hop and house, featuring prominent electronic beats and sine bass, while Carlton sings love songs in falsetto. Recording sessions in London were fractious due to creative disagreements between Smith & Mighty and the label.

References

  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 313/4. ISBN   0-7535-0252-6.
  2. "Smith & Mighty". Discogs. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  3. "Smithy & Mighty". Bristolarchiverecords.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. Warwick, Oli (30 November 2018). "Life Has A Way: The Smith & Mighty story". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  5. Bush, John. "Smith & Mighty". AllMusic . Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  6. "Smith & Mighty". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  7. Webb, Peter (October 2007). "Once Upon A Time In Bristol: Bristol Blues and Roots". Red-lines.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  8. "Dug Out // Sound & Vision // Rob Smith and Smith & Mighty". Electricpavilion.org. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  9. "Fresh 4". Discogs. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  10. Watershed. "Wishing on a Star - Fresh 4 in conversation". www.watershed.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  11. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 215. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  12. "Andy Allen The People Bristol Archive Records". www.bristolarchiverecords.com. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  13. "Peter D. Rose, The People Bristol Archive Records". www.bristolarchiverecords.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  14. "More Rockers". Discogs. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  15. "Andy Allen The People Bristol Archive Records". www.bristolarchiverecords.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  16. "VARIOUS ARTISTS - ALL KINDA STYLES | RSD". 3 January 2019. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  17. "RSD releases 'All Kinda Styles' charity album in aid of Bristol's homeless". Mixmag. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  18. "Ashley Road Sessions 88-94, by Smith & Mighty". RSD. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  19. "Decades, by RSD". RSD. Retrieved 9 December 2023.